SAVING MONEY AND ENERGY FOR NEBRASKA CONSUMERS

Do you realize that the average household in Nebraska spent about $3,825 last year on gasoline? With the price of gasoline hovering around the three dollar a gallon mark it's not surprising that the $3,825 figure is up almost 10 percent, or $360, from the previous year.

That's one of the interesting statistics about Nebraska contained in a report just sent to me by the Alliance to Save Energy using data from the Department of Energy, Census Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency, Transportation Bureau and other departments.

The report points out that this winter, which has been long and cold and is thankfully just about over, Nebraskans experienced a continuation of unprecedented increases not only for gasoline but for all forms of energy.

About half of the annual energy bill for Nebraskans goes to heat our homes. The report says those heated by natural gas went up $85 in 2007, $370 for homes heated by propane and $25 for those with electric heaters.

Those are the grim figures but the report goes on to provide some helpful tips on how we can save energy.

REDUCE GAS CONSUMPTION

The Alliance to Save Energy says vehicle fuel economy can be improved with a few simple measures: tuning the engine improves fuel economy by 4 percent. Using the recommended grade of motor oil improves it by 1 to 2 percent. Cleaning or replacing air filters helps up to 10 percent. We improve fuel economy by 3 percent by having properly inflated tires. But the biggest improvement in fuel economy comes from obeying the speed limit which improves fuel economy by 7 to 23 percent.

REDUCE HOME HEATING COSTS

Although winter is nearly over, it's not too late to save money on home heating costs. Of course, the number one tip from the Alliance to Save Energy is to turn down the thermostat. In Nebraska, lowering it by just 1 degree can reduce heating energy costs by 4 percent. That figures out to between $30 and $65 depending on the fuel used to heat the home.

Another helpful hint is to heat people and pets, not empty spaces. The Alliance says that about 80 percent of space is usually not being used at any given time. Closing vents in unoccupied rooms and using small space heaters to heat occupied areas can save a significant amount of energy and money.

Other tips include using a programmable thermostat that, if used properly, can save Nebraska households from $80 to $165 a year, and making sure the hot water heater is set at 130 degrees. Washing clothes in cold water can save Nebraska households up to $50 a year.

CFS BULBS

The report also suggests replacing the four most used incandescent light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs. That could save Nebraska households about $90 over the lifetime of the bulbs.

The small steps that each of us is able to take can lead to a considerable savings in both energy and dollars and help make sure there's enough energy for future generations. The key is awareness and education. I hope these few words are helpful.

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	Column	March 10, 2008
SAVING MONEY AND ENERGY FOR NEBRASKA CONSUMERS Do you realize that the average household in Nebraska spent about $3,825 last year on gasoline? With the price of gasoline hovering around the three dollar a gallon mark it's not surprising that the $3,825 figure is up almost 10 percent, or $360, from the previous year. That's one of the interesting statistics about Nebraska contained in a report just sent to me by the Alliance to Save Energy using data from the Department of Energy, Census Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency, Transportation Bureau and other departments. The report points out that this winter, which has been long and cold and is thankfully just about over, Nebraskans experienced a continuation of unprecedented increases not only for gasoline but for all forms of energy. About half of the annual energy bill for Nebraskans goes to heat our homes. The report says those heated by natural gas went up $85 in 2007, $370 for homes heated by propane and $25 for those with electric heaters. Those are the grim figures but the report goes on to provide some helpful tips on how we can save energy. REDUCE GAS CONSUMPTION The Alliance to Save Energy says vehicle fuel economy can be improved with a few simple measures: tuning the engine improves fuel economy by 4 percent. Using the recommended grade of motor oil improves it by 1 to 2 percent. Cleaning or replacing air filters helps up to 10 percent. We improve fuel economy by 3 percent by having properly inflated tires. But the biggest improvement in fuel economy comes from obeying the speed limit which improves fuel economy by 7 to 23 percent. REDUCE HOME HEATING COSTS Although winter is nearly over, it's not too late to save money on home heating costs. Of course, the number one tip from the Alliance to Save Energy is to turn down the thermostat. In Nebraska, lowering it by just 1 degree can reduce heating energy costs by 4 percent. That figures out to between $30 and $65 depending on the fuel used to heat the home. Another helpful hint is to heat people and pets, not empty spaces. The Alliance says that about 80 percent of space is usually not being used at any given time. Closing vents in unoccupied rooms and using small space heaters to heat occupied areas can save a significant amount of energy and money. Other tips include using a programmable thermostat that, if used properly, can save Nebraska households from $80 to $165 a year, and making sure the hot water heater is set at 130 degrees. Washing clothes in cold water can save Nebraska households up to $50 a year. CFS BULBS The report also suggests replacing the four most used incandescent light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs. That could save Nebraska households about $90 over the lifetime of the bulbs. The small steps that each of us is able to take can lead to a considerable savings in both energy and dollars and help make sure there's enough energy for future generations. The key is awareness and education. I hope these few words are helpful. ###